Remediating contaminated sources of groundwater is essential to keeping the communities and resources nearest the leak clean and healthy. So what about oil skimming?
There are, of course, many specific strategies used to tackle leaks and spills both on (in-situ) and offsite (ex-situ); each remediation situation is handled differently because of its unique location, type, and concentration of contaminants.
For example, an in-situ approach might make sense for one location, but not for another. Along the same line of logic, LNAPL spills may be handled differently from DNAPL leaks, so on and so forth. Project managers and environmental engineers typically start the remediation process by taking samples and conducting testing to determine the profile of their situation.
Part of this process is determining remediation goals for the site—which will determine the depth of treatment needed to restore a site to local and/or federally acceptable levels of contamination. Only when they understand the profile of the situation do they begin to narrow down treatment options. 
Where and When Does Oil Skimming Fit Into Remediation Methods?
Mechanical skimming does a great job of removing free-floating layers of oil and other hydrocarbons alongside containment booms, vacuum pumps, and other bioremedial techniques. However, it’s not always a standalone, one size fits all solution for remediation efforts because effective spill or leak response can require a combination of treatment methods. As an example:
In a pump and treat operation where there are large amounts of free-floating hydrocarbons, an oil skimmer can remove a great deal of free-floating product prior to the groundwater itself being removed for treatment. Not only does this lessen the concentration of contaminants in the water, but it helps to prevent emulsification.
Because belt skimmers can be outfitted with outdoor elements and very long belts, they’re able to fit into narrow monitoring wells and lift recovered oil up to a hundred feet without pumps. They are also a candidate to assist or replace pumps that struggle when water levels fluctuate; as long as the lowest part of the belt is submerged in the fluid, it will continue to skim oil despite any fluctuations.
Belt skimmers are remarkably low maintenance and easy to operate, making them a dependable solution for remediation efforts with demanding schedules and rotating staff; on its own, pump and treat is a perfectly capable method of remediation, but the oil skimmer adds an unrivaled ease of operation and free-phase product recovery.
Abanaki PetroXtractor Well Oil Skimmer
Belt Oil Skimmers and Groundwater Remediation: Free Phase Product Removal
Belt oil skimmers in groundwater remediation are designed—best use case scenario, hypothetically speaking—to reduce free floating product down to manageable levels, sometimes referred to as being at ‘sheen’ levels. If this is the site’s remediation goal, then oil skimming can be classified as a complete solution; the classification of any one method or strategy of remediation depends on the site’s specific remediation goals.
However, skimming is limited to the physical separation of oils, fats, greases, and other hydrocarbons from water. If hydrocarbons are dissolved (emulsified) in the groundwater, skimming is not a viable option. If the goals of the site require more than just ‘sheen level’ hydrocarbon concentrations, skimming on its own is not a viable option either. There may still be other, more granular treatment methods deployed to address emulsifications or other contaminants, depending on the remediation goals of the site.
